Alumni Interview with Gina Standaert

What inspired you to go abroad?

I grew up traveling a lot with my family. When I turned 17 years old and had a school holiday where I had nothing to do, I thought it was about time that I traveled on my own.

Why did you choose GoEco?

I chose GoEco due to the wide range of programs and large amount of information that is given on the initial site of the program. I chose to follow the Sea turtle program in Sri Lanka because I loved the idea of the orientation week and also loved the idea of working with turtles.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

During the turtle program we would have a daily structure: breakfast from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., work at the turtle sanctuaries would start at 9:30 a.m. and go till 12:00 p.m., then lunch would be from 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., and we would go back to the turtles at 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and then we would have free time until dinner was served at 6:30 p.m.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

I would go to town with some of the other members of the group to get an ice cream or do some quick shopping at the supermarket. Other than that I would mainly read.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

The accommodations were in quiet parts of the city which was very nice when it came to sleeping. They were also quite clean, which was very much appreciated. My favourite thing about the accommodations was the food served. There was a wide range of things to choose from and variety between days.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

They were very helpful with explaining the project and the cultural norms that we weren't used to as westerners. They also helped to organize transportation at a local price and helped to organize plans for the weekend. 

What was your favorite part about Kandy, Sri Lanka?

I mainly loved the nature in Sri Lanka. Kandy felt like it was a bustling city just dropped in the middle of the jungle.

Did you face any challenges adjusting to life in Sri Lanka?

Initially adjusting to the living conditions was probably the most difficult part. The beds weren’t that great, and the breakfast times in Kandy were not my favorite thing.

Were there any surprises about living in Kandy?

It was busy at absolutely all times of the day, and it was more Western than I was expecting. The shopping mall and the stores around town were exactly what I was used to from home-- except the cheap prices of everything.

Was there anything you wish you would have known before volunteering abroad with GoEco?

I wish I would have known not to worry about how everything would be organized. Things such as worrying about having to organize my own transportation back to the airport were absolutely not necessary because the Sri Lankan coordinators at GoEco were very willing to help with this.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of volunteering abroad is?

It gives an opportunity to visit a beautiful country and help it in some way. Doing this as a solo traveler is a great way to safely visit a country of your choice and have the added bonus of doing volunteer work.

How was your experience abroad unique?

Being as young as I am 17 years old, it was a completely new experience for me to be traveling on my own and being fully treated as an adult.

Is there anything you wish you would have done differently?

Honestly, there is nothing I would change about the experience except for the length. Instead of going for only 2 weeks, I would have gone much longer!

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Be prepared to get dirty, wet, bitten by mosquitoes, and sunburnt. It is nowhere near the end of the world, and as long as you bring appropriate clothing and bug spray you will be absolutely fine!

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I feel much more responsible and more mature now that I have experienced traveling on my own and individually experiencing a new country.

Would you recommend GoEco’s Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Program to others? Why?

Absolutely, everything was well organised and my safety was very important for both the organisation that I went with and the in-land coordinators.

After your experience with GoEco, have you started considering going abroad again?

I’m already planning my next trip!